Aug. 25, 2010

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -

The Great West Conference cross country coaches have again selected Utah Valley as the favorite to capture both the men's and the women's 2010 GWC cross country titles, the conference office announced Wednesday.

The Wolverines were chosen by the coaches to win the title in 2009, a feat both the UVU men and women accomplished, and both preseason polls are identical to the 2009 championship finishes.

Utah Valley received seven first-place votes on the men's side for a total of 61 points. Seattle collected the other first-place vote and finished second in the poll with 56 points.

South Dakota finished third with 45 points, followed by NJIT with 40 total points and Texas-Pan American with 35 points. The men's poll was rounded out by HBU with 26 points in seventh, North Dakota with 16 total points and Chicago State with 9 points.

UVU was a unanimous choice to win the 2010 women's title as the Wolverines garnered all eight first-place votes for a total of 64 points.

South Dakota tallied 56 points in second place, followed by North Dakota in third with 47 points. Seattle finished in fourth place with 37 points, while UTPA had 31 points in fifth place and HBU gained 29 points in sixth. NJIT and Chicago State posted 15 and nine points, respectively, to complete the preseason women's poll.

The 2010 GWC men's and women's champions will be crowned at the conference championships, hosted by Texas-Pan American, on Saturday, October 30, at Edinburg, Texas.

GWC 2010 Preseason Cross Country Polls

Men's

1. Utah Valley (7) 61 pts.

2. Seattle (1) 56 pts.

3. South Dakota 45 pts.

4. NJIT 40 pts.

5. UTPA 35 pts.

6. HBU 26 pts.

7. North Dakota 16 pts.

8. Chicago State 9 pts.

Women's

1. Utah Valley (8) 64 pts.

2. South Dakota 56 pts.

3. North Dakota 47 pts.

4. Seattle 37 pts.

5. UTPA 31 pts.

6. HBU 29 pts.

7. NJIT 15 pts.

8. Chicago State 9 pts.

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